Russian journalist goes on hunger strike to support Ukrainian Sentsov

Shura]Shura Burtin, the Russian journalist at 'Russky Reporter' (Russian Reporter) has gone on a hunger strike to support Ukrainian movie maker Oleg Sentsov as he reported on Facebook.'Friends, I am tired of reposting a phrase 'Oleg Sentsov, another day of the hunger strike'. A person reposts, then eats a sandwich and feels like an insect. It seems that we countdown in chorus: nine-eight-seven – until the death of a person. He seems to be strong – he can just die. What will I feel then? People say: we cannot do something else, we did not agree the rally in the support in Moscow, we cannot even hold the single protests due to the FIFA World Cup. Kolchenko recently was in the punishment cell, before this he was at the prison hospital with the dystrophy. So, what is stopping me?', Burtin said.

According to the journalist, 'it is at least some action instead of the forced observation of someone's death'.'People really risk their life there, I am not risking at all. It is at least some action instead of the forced observation of someone's death. At least the hunger interrupts the sense of shame. Of course, I have some business that is not really compatible with the hunger strike – so, it will wait', Burtin claimed.

He has also urged all those who can to join the hunger strike.'Possible, if enough people from the 'outside' publicly join the hunger strike, it will break-up the isolation somehow. Possibly, if there are some public figures, then it will become another information reason and influence something. I just hope that Sentsov will be supported a little, that people will physically live a part of his life', Burtin said.As it is known, Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov and Crimean activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained by the Russian FSB in the annexed Crimea. Both were taken to Russia. Sentsov was charged with preparing a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in the high-security penal colony. Kolchenko was sentenced to ten-years-long imprisonment.

Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov has announced a hunger strike on May 14. This way, he demands that all Ukrainians detained in Russia and annexed Crimea be released. Sentsov said he was ready to die if the requirements were not fulfilled.On May 31, another Ukrainian political prisoner Oleksandr Kolchenko joined Sentsov, announcing hunger strike as well. He demands to set Sentsov free.

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